There is something about watching an animated movie that is clearly aimed at the younger age group as a college student. For one, you notice all the adult jokes. It may be rated PG, but as anyone who has Googled subliminal messages in Disney movies can tell you, it is amazing what can get added in and still be considered family friendly.
As a teenager I wouldn’t be caught dead at an animated movie. Sure I had grown up watching more Disney movies than I would like to admit, but there came an age where they quit being fun and exciting. Then, unexpectedly in the last year they became fun again.
My friends recommended “Wreck It Ralph” and I was hesitant. The commercials didn’t do much to sway me, but when I sat down and watched it I was pleasantly surprised. The animation and the soundtrack that featured Skrillex along with the theme of accepting who you are blew me away. I started to think maybe the so-called kids movies were all right after all.
Last weekend I went back to the movies and saw “GI Joe” and “The Croods.” Both were fun and had a great age range. Some movies have a definite target age group, but both of these movies brought in kids under 10 and older parents. I like to think I am too mature for booger jokes or slapstick humor but I was cracking up at every one of them. There was something about the line “get in the family kill circle” from “The Croods” that made me crack up.
Good movies appeal to a wide age range and not only the initial target audience. Young people can enjoy “serious” movies like “Lincoln” and older people, like my grandparents, can enjoy “How to Train Your Dragon.” There is no dent on your pride to admit you like an animated movie. Yes, I went to the late night showing of “The Croods” and enjoyed every minute of it. Sometimes it is great to watch a movie with funny voices and one-liners where the moral is spelled out at the end. I will likely be quoting “Finding Nemo” to my grandkids but maybe in 30 years it will be considered a cultural highlight.
It takes real talent to make it to the top of my favorite movie list and I am proud to say many animated movies have made it to the top.
